GoldLink is seemingly playing it cool everywhere he goes. Since his breakout 2016 hit “Crew” was certified double-platinum (and notably, spawned a standout remix with Sly Glizzy and Gucci Mane that has more than 20-million YouTube plays), GoldLink has been enjoying a gleeful walk into stardom. Of course, a few meticulously placed stepping stones helped clear a pathway for the 25-year-old Washington, D.C. rapper’s success, including his highly entertaining 2014 mixtape, The God Complex, the mixtape’s engaging 2015 sequel, And After That, We Didn’t Talk, and his danceable 2017 studio debut, At What Cost.

The Rick Rubin co-signed rapper’s biggest strength lies in his undeniable charm, tight flow and fluid smoothness. Case in point, his latest Tiny Desk Concert on NPR. Here, Heads can watch GoldLink sharply rap four different songs from each of his solo projects: “Bedtime Story” from 2014’s The God Complex, “Dark Skin Women” from 2015’s And After That, We Didn’t Talk, and “Some Girl” and “Pray Everyday (Survivor’s Guilt)” from 2017’s At What Cost. Perhaps his standout performance of “Dark Skinned Girls,” shines brightest, as the rapper celebrates a profound love for women with dark skin, with a cool nod to ex-Odd Future affiliate, The Internet: “Uh, killin’ ni**as, laying bodies all in the studio / Wishin’ for the darkest skin’did women be at the shows / Purple naked ladies while I watch her dance in the mirror / She dirty dancin’, I call her Diana, she mike a pole.”

Backed by a few singers and a terrific band, GoldLink performs over each instrumental with ease, barely leaving any room for fault and making it all seem effortless. All of this while wearing a t-shirt meant to silence all doubters: “I Told You So.” Back in his hometown, he proves as much.

At the top of the year, GoldLink proved that 2018 would be his, by collaborating with artists such as Diplo, Christina Aguilera, Tom Misch and Craig David. While the rapper hasn’t formally announced an album is up this year, there’s no doubt his hit-streak will lead up to an epic one.